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Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterManchester City boss Pep Guardiola has told his players to stay at home before their crucial Champions League clash with Real Madrid.The Cityzens currently trail the La Liga giants 3-0 after their last 16 first leg in Madrid last week, with Federico Valverde scoring a hat-trick.But with the game coming just days after his side faced West Ham in the Premier League, Guardiola has ordered his team to rest, instead of reporting for training.Article continues below You may like Pep Guardiola puts pressure on Manchester City players to deliver after Real Madrid humiliation with blunt appraisal of title hopes How to watch Real Madrid vs Man City: Free stream, TV info Could Pep Guardiola resign THIS WEEK after new Manchester City low? Why has Pep Guardiola told his players to stay at home?Get VIP Manchester City tickets HERE with Seat Unique!Manchester City's hospitality provides Level 2 South West Corner seating and access to the exclusive Manager's Corner Lounge and Bar. Guests can enjoy premium food and bar options, complimentary tea and coffee at half-time and full-time, and a matchday programme. Car parking (one per four guests) is also included, adding convenience to this enhanced match experience.View DealGuardiola hasn't had it his way this week, with City first beaten by Real 3-0 at the Bernabeu, with Valverde the star of the show.But Manchester City were then dealt a further blow in terms of their Premier League title hopes, as relegation-threatened West Ham grabbed a point in Saturday's 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.Explaining how City were back in for a recovery session yesterday, with former Barca boss detailed why the team had opened to give the squad an extra day's rest."We were in Madrid, travel here, day after here no training, go to London, arrive yesterday at 2.30am, today you cannot do anything because the players who played are still at home and tomorrow we train," he began.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."We will not have to train something but repetition for the training will take us to Real Madrid."We don't have time to train. I prefer them to be at home. We will arrive at 2[pm], move a little on the legs and go. I did it two or three times this season."Sometimes I train, sometimes I say stay at home. We have been together for 11 months with the [Club] World Cup so we know each other quite well."This isn't the first time City have opted not to train before a big game. They also took the decision back in November, between a Premier League game with Bournemouth and a Champions League clash at home to Dortmund.Guardiola said then that it was better that the players 'didn't see each other' until the morning of the contest. The Sky Blues won that match 4-1 and City will need to win by at least a three-goal margin if they are to have any hope of overhauling their first-leg deficit on Tuesday.The winners will almost certainly meet Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, with the Bundesliga side having destroyed Atalanta 6-1 in the first leg of their last-16 clash.TOPICSPep GuardiolaManchester CityReal MadridPremier LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueMatthew HoltSocial Links NavigationMatthew Holt writes freelance for FourFourTwo, amongst others, and boasts previous experience at GOAL and SPORTBible. He now works with us alongside his time at Manchester United, aiding with online content for the website. Career highs include working at the FA Cup final, as well as scoring at Old Trafford in front of the Stretford End. A long-term sufferer of his beloved Scunthorpe United, he is often seen on the padel court, as well as occasionally as a six-a-side call-up.
